Going Out in Style – Comics Cover Price

Let’s not beat around the bush, comics are getting expensive. With so many new issues, epic sagas, and never-ending disasters, my wallet can only take so much. Cover Price is a weekly comic review with the set budget of $15. I mostly pick my choices based on cover, price, and hype. Which company suckered me into buying their issues this week? Were the issues I picked up worth the $15 cut? Were the issues you picked up worth your money?

10/14/15 C.C.P. Reviews:

Superman: Lois and Clark #1 – $3.99

I Hate Fairyland #1 – $3.50

Ms. Marvel #19 – $2.99

Superman: Lois and Clark #1

Writer: Dan Jurgens | Artist: Lee Works

This comic may be more controversial than DC’s disappointing event, Convergence. Pre-52 Superman, the original, has been in the New 52 universe since the very beginning. There have always been 2 Supermen in the New 52 universe. There’s the New 52 Superman that fans seem to either like or hate. And there’s the classic Superman everyone loves and respects. With this issue, it is confirmed that Convergence put the Pre-52 Superman in the main DC universe (New 52), but he hasn’t done anything to help the New 52 Superman. I’m not sure if this is an insult to DC Comic readers or not. Besides this jarring plot point, there’s nothing wrong with this issue. It’s Superman trying to raise a family without being noticed. In fact, the basis of this plot doesn’t even have to take place within the New 52 Universe. I think it further complicates the story. The classic Superman could be so helpful to Clark right now since he’s losing his powers and his identity’s been exposed. But for some reason, he’s not doing anything…which really isn’t “Superman” like. The story is average but the art is fantastic. Lee Works continues drawing Superman after his stellar run on Convergence: Superman. It’s very nostalgic to see the red underwear again. Lee Works puts so much detail and action into every panel. There’s nothing fundamentally wrong with this issue, it’s just that I can’t get over the elephant in the room plot-hole. Maybe it’ll lead to an interesting team up or maybe it’ll just be another Secret Wars: Old Man Logan. Who knows? I’ve been burned many times before. This issue is a flip through before you buy.

I Hate Fairyland #1

Writer/Artist: Skottie Young

There are comics that are weird (Sex Criminals), crazy weird (Chew), and then there comes a gem like I Hate Fairyland. Skottie Young is known for his cute and bed-time story-like art style. So he takes his signature art and twists and perverts it into something you didn’t even know you wanted to read. I Hate Fairyland is a fairy-tale gone horrible wrong. It’s as if the next Disney princess was creator by the writers of South Park. It’s a hilarious, guilty pleasure of a comic. The colors are bright and the characters are straight out of a children’s book…but the action is bloody, gory, and unrestricted. Skottie Young has crafted a hilarious, messy, good time comic that bought an odd smile to my face. I recommend you buy this issue. It’s a great big “FLUFF YOU” to the traditional fairy-tale.

Ms. Marvel #19

Writer: G. Willow Wilson | Artist: Adrian Alphona

There’s absolutely no denying that Ms. Marvel was great publicity for Marvel. But Kamala Khan was needed in both comics and the media. At first, it was hard to tell if Kamala Khan was going to stay. When I first read Ms. Marvel, I was excited about how good the first issue was. You could tell that G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona, and editor Sana Amanat, really had this great passion for Kamala Khan. Kamala Khan was the next generation’s Peter Parker. A new, relatable character that both boys and girls could enjoy. After reading the conclusion to the Ms. Marvel series, I know Kamala Khan is here to stay. This issue should be average. With all the new #1’s and new characters Marvel is putting out, there’s a lot of things working against this issue. Nothing action packed or world-ending intense happens…but that’s exactly what makes this issue memorable. Kamala Khan is facing the end of the world and she’s facing it as Kamala Khan, not Ms. Marvel. She’s spending it with her friends, family, and neighborhood. She’s spending her last days with the people she loves most. This issue is extremely grounded in reality. Times of crisis can bring out the best in people. Instead of worrying about tomorrow, Jersey City enjoys the time they have left together. For a superhero comic, this issue is extremely “human”. This is the issue when I truly saw a part of myself as Kamala Khan. She’s living out every comic book reader’s dream. She’s a superhero and she loves helping people. It’s so important to her that she’s willing to dedicate the immeasurable amount of responsibility. And that’s a message that speaks to everyone. If you want your passion and dreams to come true, you have to be willing to make sacrifices. Ms. Marvel #19 is a fantastic issue. It’s packed with emotion and is a perfect conclusion to the first Ms. Marvel series. I hope G. Willow Wilson continues to write Kamala Khan for as long as Bendis wrote Ultimate Spider-Man. I can’t wait to see where Ms. Marvel goes from here. “Sometimes you have to face the end of the world to find the beginning of something better.”

Panel of the Week:

We didn’t actually review this comic this week but…man, this is one great image.

There are many more books released by DC and Marvel this week. I wish I could read them all but my wallet can only take so much. What did you read this week? Which issues would you put on your $15 budget this week? Remember to read and buy what you want and support your favorite writers and artists!

Derek is comic book fan like none other. You can follow him on Twitter.